-Phx has a lot of young D-men coming up that can replace Yandle(Rundblad, Gormely etc...). Schultz can replace Yandle until one of the younger guys steps up. Wolski adds depth to Phx`s offense and a 2nd round draft pick in a deep draft

*If this is not enough what would be needed to get Yandle out of Phx?

-Was gets a good defenseman to help them in their own zone. their defense has been dreadful. and Biznasty gives them character and grit.

# Getting Ovi some help up front

If Ovi can convince Radulov to come to the NHL to play with him they can make a very deadly line. I think Ovi can influence Radulov into coming to NA for at least one year, or until Kuznetzov is ready.

Sign Radulov 2 years 4mill per.( it will take an over payment to get Radulov back in NA)

This gives that line another threat other than Ovi. Players will have to shutdown both these speedy wingers now as well as Backstrom.

Roster afters trades and healthy(cap geek is still screwed up, but all this fits under that cap amazingly)

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Laich's contract is long-term at 4.5 million for a guy who is not a top level NHL player. It's another Booth or Ballard deal which we could do without. But talent wise it makes sense. I'd really like to get Forsberg

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They need to ditch OV & start over with Kuznetsov. No more decade-contracts either! Guys like Hendricks make 600K, score more big goals(recently) than Ovi, & fight anyone, to cover the guy's butt. All the while that flamboyant loudmouth makes 10 mill?!? How can he look his teammates in the eye?

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They need to ditch OV & start over with Kuznetsov. No more decade-contracts either! Guys like Hendricks make 600K, score more big goals(recently) than Ovi, & fight anyone, to cover the guy's butt. All the while that flamboyant loudmouth makes 10 mill?!? How can he look his teammates in the eye?

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They need to ditch OV & start over with Kuznetsov. No more decade-contracts either! Guys like Hendricks make 600K, score more big goals(recently) than Ovi, & fight anyone, to cover the guy's butt. All the while that flamboyant loudmouth makes 10 mill?!? How can he look his teammates in the eye?

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I'll hereby predict by Sochi(Feb 2014) the Ovechkin contract is perceived as the heaviest anvil in the league. It'll surpass the Lecavalier deal in rank stench.

At least Vinny will drop the gloves, & keep his yap shut when he should. I bet Washington's players would instantly perk up if that albatross flew away.

Yes ovechkin's a sublimely talented player-they just completely botched his contract. Lastly, for those of us who nostalgically wonder "what mighta ben", had we signed Bure long-term, OV's/Washington's plummet will probably give us the closest approximation of the bullet we may have dodged.

In NHL hockey, give me personable, accountable & conscientious stars like Yzerman, Sakic, Iginla; or even lesser stars similar to Trevor Linden ANY DAY over these talented headcases! & NO, it's not simply bc he's Russian. I have great admiration for the skill/class of Larionov, Datsyuk, & others... A great team like ours today could keep this buffoon accountable for a short term...perhaps.

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Their core is horrible. Cup winning teams build off solid cores, which include 2 centermen, a winger or two, a great top defensive pairing and goalie.

Chicago's is still one of the best, with Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook and now Crawford.

Boston has a bit of a wavering core with Krejci, Lucic, Horton, Seguin, Chara, Seidenberg and now Rask.

Los Angeles has a great core with Kopitar, Richards, Brown, Carter, Doughty, Mitchell and Quick.

Now look at Washington's core:

Backstrom, Johanssen (not quite as good as some of the other 2nd line centers), Ovechkin, Knuble (not a star), Green (disgusting defensively) and Carlson (ditto), with no real star goalie.

Their core needs a serious shake-up, it starts in net and works out to defence. Ideally they need a couple of solid shutdown specialists to help clean up their sloppy play, a top-10 NHL goalie and a depth scoring winger. This team is in a lot more trouble than it seems.

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Washington doesn't need fixing. They have a good, young core, as well as some elite prospects on their way up. I am talking about Backstrom, Alzner, Carlson, Johanssen, Kuznetsov and Forsberg. Holtby still has a lot of upside, and could be a franchise goalie. They just have to let those guys develop and continue to draft well. McPhee shouldn't be in a hurry to do anything. At some point, it will likely make sense to trade Ovechkin to clear cap and change the team's culture. But there's no rush for that.